PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[PhiLaw]

Originally Posted by Londonee

Point Breeze is the next G-Ho. G-ho is G-Ho because it is and always was a 10 minute walk to Rittenhouse Square. Pennsport is a 10 minute walk to Queen Village which, of course, is not the same thing.

Also, like PB, G-Ho was in somewhat abandoned shape at the turn of the century (2000)--Pennsport has always been pretty much a solid middle class neighborhood with sporadic development activity. In other words, there's just not the same opportunity for development that G-Ho had with its mix of empty lots and abandoned buildings. Will Pennsport activity increase? Sure, but reasonably and at the same rate as other fringe neighborhoods.

I understand that G-Ho's geography will always make it similar to Queens Village. But Queens Village is rapidly developing, just like G-Ho is (albeit a few years behind G-Ho). What I mean by Pennsport is the next G-Ho is (as next implies, it is not close to where G-Ho is yet - but will be in the near future. And that Pennsport has all of the qualities that attract many people to G-Ho (save for its location next to Rittenhouse).

I would also note that 6th through 7th (and 1/2) streets all along Pennsport are not safe, especially at night. I learned that the hard way back in 2008.

[PHL10]

Forget location for a moment. Graduate Hospital is so disparate from Pennsport, it’s an almost ridiculous comparison. I agree with Londonee’s comparison to Point Breeze. If you are looking for a soul mate for Pennsport, I would choose Fishtown – mostly intact, white working class neighborhood that is rough around the edges.

This was very common in Grad-Hosp pre-gentrification which is very unlike Pennsport:



It’s really a poor comparison on so many levels and you should just drop it as opposed to doubling-down.

[summersm343]

Article on Market8
http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/01/2...e-most-money-and-transform-market-street

[summersm343]

SEPTA may purchase bi-level coach regional rail cars

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/01/29/septa-may-purchase-bi-level-coaches

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

I would also note that 6th through 7th (and 1/2) streets all along Pennsport are not safe, especially at night. I learned that the hard way back in 2008.

That isn't Pennsport. 5th street isn't even Pennsport. That is Dickinson Narrows.

[relnahe]

Originally Posted by PHL10

If you are looking for a soul mate for Pennsport, I would choose Fishtown – mostly intact, white working class neighborhood that is rough around the edges.

I was going to say the same thing. Working class Irish neighborhood, a little grit but few to no abandon houses or building, few empty lots so not a lot of space for infill. G-Ho I would say is more similar to Fairmount in that they're both essential bedroom communities to CC. Its amazing how many bars and restaurants and places to go that Fishtown has now. Yet G-Ho has so few in comparison.

[relnahe]

Weeks ago, we shared the good news that a Demolition Notice had appeared at 2017-23 Chestnut St., the former YWCA annex. This building has sat vacant since 1990, and became a blighted nuisance to the adjacent Freire Charter School over the last several years. Thankfully, over two years after we first broke the news, the building is finally coming down.

Thank goodness this is going down and something tall is going in.

http://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-philly/ri...nnex-on-chestnut-street-is-finally-being

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

I understand that G-Ho's geography will always make it similar to Queens Village. But Queens Village is rapidly developing, just like G-Ho is (albeit a few years behind G-Ho). What I mean by Pennsport is the next G-Ho is (as next implies, it is not close to where G-Ho is yet - but will be in the near future. And that Pennsport has all of the qualities that attract many people to G-Ho (save for its location next to Rittenhouse).

I would also note that 6th through 7th (and 1/2) streets all along Pennsport are not safe, especially at night. I learned that the hard way back in 2008.

Firstly, it's Queen Village.

Secondly, Queen Village has been a fairly posh and fully gentrified area for almost 2 decades. B/c of the Meredith catchment, it's one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and has been for some time. It's not really "developing" in any sense outside of normal urban context. I only bought in G-Ho b/c QV was, at the time, too expensive (trust me, we looked). I heart QV.

Thirdly, you say that Pennsport "has all of the qualities that attract people to G-Ho" - yet the principal reason for G-Ho's explosiveness was its proximity to Rittenhouse--which, of course, Pennsport lacks. So what other similar qualities are there? Like, they both have...houses, and sidewalks? Development will occur there, i just don't see it being any different than say...Fairmount, Francisville, or Fishtown--and especially not PB.

Sorry to hear about your last point, hopefully it wasn't anything too bad.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by Mappy

Sorry if Im posting something that has already been said, but....

Has anyone else notice a theme developing (similarities between) the Market 8 Design, and the CITC design?

I think the blade looks a lot better on the Market 8 rendering. It seems more bow shaped with the blade bending outward. I really like the look or Market 8, I am just hesitant on the final product in regards to look and what it may/may not do for Market east.

I am sure a lot of questions are being proposed and hopefully answered today.

[iamrobk]

Originally Posted by summersm343

SEPTA may purchase bi-level coach regional rail cars

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/01/29/septa-may-purchase-bi-level-coaches

Nice. Always thought the NJT ones were pretty cool. My concern is over parking at some of the stations, since its already pretty tough a lot of the time.

[eliasrapp98]

About the Comcast thing however, despite my hate for them as a provider, company, and monopoly, I feel like whenever they win, Philly wins. If they get those new areas from Time Warner, they might feel the need to build a 3rd building in Philly or invest more money here etc. While I despise who they are, I can't help but feel like we win in someway in the end.

[theWatusi]

Originally Posted by eliasrapp98

I know this is completely off topic, but how do I change from GMT to EST?

An airplane would be the quickest, though it is possible by boat as well.

[josef]

Originally Posted by theWatusi

An airplane would be the quickest, though it is possible by boat as well.

Genius.

eliasrapp98, it's under "Date & Time" options at if you go to http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/profile.php?do=editoptions

[Parkway]

Interesting tidbit PREIT has bought the building on the northwest corner of 15th and Walnut.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/PREIT-buys-15th--Walnut-corner.html

[eliasrapp98]

Originally Posted by josef

Genius.

eliasrapp98, it's under "Date & Time" options at if you go to http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/profile.php?do=editoptions

Thanks!

[shadowbat2]

20th and Chestnut demo:





Rear wing almost gone:






11th and Chestnut, no demo work yet, though asbestos abatement is complete I believe....

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

What a baller Lord Foster is: he's figured out a way to make his buildings invisible to reflection! I keed, I keed. What a great view that'll be.

I'm still unimpressed with the new new proposal for a variety of reasons.

First is the cheap and ridiculous spire. Of course it will be the city's tallest if built, but the spire doesn't do anything per se.

Second, are the aesthetics and while it does complement the Comcast Center, the tower is very bland if you think about it. Nothing special about it other than the fact that it might be the city's tallest.

Third, the ACC had a proposal that would not only have just office space, but it would also come with a five star hotel, a high-end mall, green space in the middle of the tower, and connections to the Suburban Station concourse, as well as the ACC being LEED Gold certified. I'm pretty sure that the concourse will be connected to Foster's tower but all the rest of the anemities don't seem to be existent with his proposal.

And finally, the design is practically uninspiring for what should be the city's tallest tower. It looks to be a copycat of the ill fated Mandeville Place condo except on a taller basis. It doesn't have the imposing effect that the great proposal ACC had when it was first introduced. That proposal had a lot of media coverage throughout the city, and yet it never got off the ground despite political, financial, and economic support.

How could you have the ACC, which was basically the best supertall proposal the city had and should've been the best skyscraper in the city never be built, even though financing was available by the developer despite the financial atmosphere at the time, and somehow the city and state could've used the KOZ the subsidize any costs and do anything to let any company (GSK, Black Rock, Verizon, TD, etc.) set up headquarters in Center City.

The real blame goes to the city and state for not doing anything to promote the ACC. The developer had all his chips in the right spot, the design was environmentally efficient and world class,and the ACC would've been a perfect landmark for a city which was bouncing back from over 50 years of decline, and yet I'm not sure what then governor Rendell was doing, but Nutter missed out on a golden opportunity for the city by not allowing the ACC to be built and generating construction and permanent jobs which would've taken place.

All Foster's proposal is to me is that Philly would rather settle for mediocre than something which would really put Philly as a world class city, a problem this city has (and continues to have). I'm not saying that one tower would make one city into a world class destination, but Philly really let the ball drop on not getting this beauty (the ACC) get built!!! And if Comcast wanted more space, then it would've made common sense to build a taller Comcast Center and even build what would've been a 2 Comcast Center (the smaller building on the corner of 18th and JFK).

[PhiLaw]

PREIT buys the scourge of my life - that ugly site on 15th and Walnut

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/PREIT-buys-15th--Walnut-corner.html

[Plokoon11]

ACC was bland, it looked like it trying to be the freedom tower. I mean yes it was massive, but too simple for my tastes. A glass shard perhaps.

[Flyers2001]

Third, the ACC had a proposal that would not only have just office space, but it would also come with a five star hotel, a high-end mall, green space in the middle of the tower, and connections to the Suburban Station concourse, as well as the ACC being LEED Gold certified. I'm pretty sure that the concourse will be connected to Foster's tower but all the rest of the anemities don't seem to be existent with his proposal.

All of the things you mentioned are great except for one part; get ready for it.... REALITY. I was all for ACC getting built, but take a step back and look at what the market demand is. That building was a pipe dream 3 years ago and would be one today. The Philadelphia Market could not support that building, but CITC is being built out of need. CITC will have a high end hotel as well as a new high end hotel being built by The W. Liberty Place has a mall a block a way and if PRIET can turn The Gallery around it will be even more beneficial to the city than a 1500' pipe dream that said what it could have, but never explained how.